James Williams of Kinston stood along Herritage Street Saturday, the sun beating down, gazing as veterans of all ages — along with classic cars, marching bands, military vehicles and more — passed for the 12th annual Salute Veterans Parade.

“I think it’s right good,” he said when the parade ended. “I enjoyed it.”

The parade is a major piece of this weekend’s annual tribute to veterans. Known as Salute, it includes the parade, ceremonies, speeches, a stage show and memorial service.

Participants in Saturday’s parade -- led by the American Legion Riders motorcycle group -- included local Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, Kinston High School’s marching band and JROTC unit, Elks Lodge 740 of Kinston, Greenville Public Safety Pipes and Drums, McDonald’s — which provided an SUV with the McCafélogo emblazoned on the side and the Hamburglar sitting on top waving — veterans organizations and more.

Parade watchers could see a trailer bearing a board with the names of Lenoir County residents who have given their lives in conflicts ranging from World War I to the Global War on Terror, courtesy of Bethel Baptist Church of Pink Hill and J.C. Howard Farms.

Another trailer held a model of the destroyer USS Waterman (DE-740), courtesy of the Destroyer-Escort Sailors Association, Carolinas Chapter.

Watchers were also treated to the sight of a handful of military trucks and jeeps, provided by the Military Vehicle Preservation Group of Wilson.

The participants in the parade lined up at Edwards Funeral Home and traveled about half a mile down Herritage Street to Pearson Park.

Vietnam veteran Arthur Gray of Kinston walked through the crowd at the park, shaking hands with fellow veterans and telling them, “Welcome home.”

Gray wore a cap indicating he had been wounded in combat. He said he was in Vietnam with the U.S. Marine Corps during 1965 and 1966, and was wounded by a booby trap as he and his fellow Marines prepared to set a night ambush.

He noted that Saturday was also the USMC’s birthday — the Corps turned 237 years old.

“When we see another marine we just say, ‘Happy birthday,’ ” Gray explained.

Gray said many Vietnam veterans received no welcome when they returned home. He called Saturday’s parade and other events “heartwarming.”

Page 2 of 3 - “It was an unpopular war, but we went off to serve just like any other conflict and it feels really good to see the people honoring us now,” he said.

Veterans and their friends and families gathered to hear tributes to veterans, including one given by retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Alfred K. Flowers, who was born and raised in Jones County — he was also grand marshal in the parade.

He grew up in a sharecropping family around Phillips Crossroads, and went on to become longest-serving active duty member of the Air Force.

Flowers retired Jan. 1 after nearly 47 years in the service. His last assignment was serving as deputy assistant secretary for budget, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller, Washington, D.C., according to his Air Force biography.

“I’m proud of my Jones and Lenoir County heritages … Thank you all veterans for all that you have done and all you continue to do,” Flowers told the audience.

The general spoke of the millions of Americans who have served in the military, and those who are “in harm’s way” today, such as the tens of thousands still serving in Afghanistan.

“We can hardly wait until the end of (fiscal year 2014) when we have all of our veterans come home from Afghanistan,” he said.

Flowers also spoke of the recent sacrifice made by two former Navy SEALs, Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods, who were killed Sept. 11 during a terrorist attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya.

Although they, along with U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and State Department staffer Sean Smith, were killed, Flowers said their actions saved 20 other American personnel.

“A country is only as good as the people in it,” he said. “A land that could produce such heroes is worth serving.”

Flowers also encouraged those in the audience to consider the thousands of American veterans who are unemployed or under-employed. He said veterans make up one out of every four members of the homeless population.

He implored the audience to not only say ‘thank you’ to a veteran, but take action to assist him or her.

“Saying thank you is good; showing (your thanks) is much better,” he said.

Giving thanks

Members of the Salute organizing committee and local leaders also gave tribute to veterans Saturday.

Kinston Mayor B.J. Murphy welcomed the community to Pearson Park, and spoke about his father, Buster Murphy, who served in the military.

He said his father’s service had given him the freedom to choose how he wanted to serve his community — through elected office.

“Thank you,” he told the veterans. “Our country loves you, this community embraces you, and to many of you here today, welcome home.”

Page 3 of 3 - Eric Cantu, a member of the Salute committee and commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2771, asked the audience to remember the nation’s prisoners of war and those listed as missing in action.

He indicated an empty chair meant to symbolize those still missing, and mentioned a current U.S. POW, Army Sgt. Bowe Berghdal, who has been a prisoner of the Taliban in Afghanistan since 2009.

“Pray for him, pray for his family and do not let your legislators forget him,” Cantu said.

Memebers of the Croatan Lodge of the Order of the Arrow, part of the Eastern Carolina Council of the Boy Scouts, performed a Native American dance and sang in honor of the veterans.

George Washington of Kinston, who served two tours in Vietnam and was a U.S. Army drill sergeant, recruiter and more, led the crowd in marching cadence.

Guy Basden, chairman of the Salute committee, thanked those who gave “their time, love and commitment” to put this weekend’s events together.

“Thank you Kinston and Lenoir County for your support and your participation,” he said.

David Anderson can be reached at 252-559-1077 or David.Anderson@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at DavidFreePress.